In the trial against Plarent Dervishaj and Julian Meçe, defendants for the assassination attempt on the vehicle of former Durrës prosecutor Arjan Ndoj, with 1 killed and two wounded, Arben Haxhiaj, brother of Bashkim Haxhiaj, defendant in the same trial, testified. Dervishaj and Meçe are being tried separately from the other defendants because both were later extradited from Dubai.
Redian Rraja, the nephew of former socialist MP Rrahman Rraja, was sentenced to life in prison for the assassination, and his associate Arion Halilaj was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Arjan Ndoj and Aleksandër Laho, known as Rrumi, a character in the underworld, were injured in the incident, while the driver Andi Maloku was killed.
Arben Haxhiaj's testimony
In 2020 I lived in Durrës. I had a small bar in neighborhood no. 5.
I know Aleksandër Laho mostly from TV, but I have also met him in person. He came to the bar the third time.
He introduced himself to me. He was a little fat, round.
The reason for the meeting was to warn me that my brother, Bashkimi, should stay out of this mess.
They were assassinated (we are talking about the assassination of Plarent Dervishaj, Julian Meçe and Bashkim Haxhiaj in June 2019 in Shijak). Juli was in a cast. He took 4 bullets.
I told him to stay away from me. I continued with my work.
My brother was in prison when this happened.
We also exchanged phone numbers with Laho (Rrumin i Shijakut).
He called me for the same conversation.
I gave him the same answer.
After that phone call, I had no further contact.
I have no knowledge of the assassination attempt on the prosecutor.
Attorney Ilia Ilia: Describe how it came about?
The third person came to the bar.
I've also been threatened with text messages. They told me: Give up, or we'll kill your brother. We'll take your children too.
I don't know who the sender was.
This threat came some time after the conversation with Rrumi.
My brother was sentenced to 4 years and 8 months for the assassination attempt on the prosecutor.
My brother was also assassinated. I know that when I went to the hospital, my brother was taken to the police. My brother was in the same car with Plarent Dervishi and Jul Meçe when they were assassinated.
To my knowledge, all three were harmed. If that matter had been resolved, who carried out the assassination, I would not be here today. I come and testify here, because they call me, but my children are in danger, because I live in Durrës.
